Dogs Training Blog

We have recently adopted our second dog from a shelter, Candy.We have had Candy for five weeks and she has become great pals with our other dog Lucy who we have had for nine months. In most other aspects other than the toilet training she is wonderful..We live in a rented house with a small backyard. I take the dogs for a long walk each morning and then again after work. Three days out of seven both humans are at work so we leave the dogs inside and I drive home at lunch time to let them go outside. Candy does not seem to quite get it. In fact, she may do a pee in the yard and two seconds later come into the house and go to the toilet on the rug. Or we will leave the back door open when we are at home and she goes to the toilet inside rather than outside.They stay inside with us every evening and I take them into the yard to releive themselves before sleep for one last opportunity. Lucy cottoned on pretty quickly and seems to hold on when she can. (Of course it is understandble if left for longer periods only inside).Candy had been at the no kill shelter for nine months and had obviously been used to going to the toilet in her cage.When we first started taking her for walks, she didn’t even realize it was a good time to pee and poo. The whole time she has been going to the toilet in our house in two rooms.. a spare bedroom and the dining room.. on rugs and sometimes on the carpet around it. I am constantly cleaning and trying keep the house smelling nice.If Candy and Lucy go to the toilet during a walk, they are highly praised and showered with affection.On top of praising them and taking them for regular walksI have tried:- buying a strip of fake grass – she just went around it- putting down training pads- I have bought the special spray to spray onto the pads which is meant to attract them to do their business (I think the spray contains urine as it smells pretty bad..)- keeping the door open whenevrr we are homeWe could leave them outside when we are at work but it will be a shame as we head toward a hot summer (we have an outside laundry so could make the comfortable).I would love any training tips or suggestions please?Thanks!

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